Subdivision 1. Establishment. A Legislative Water Commission is established.

Subd. 2. Membership. (a) The Legislative Water Commission consists of 12 members appointed as follows:

(1) six members of the senate, including three majority party members appointed by the majority leader and three minority party members appointed by the minority leader; and

(2) six members of the house of representatives, including three majority party members appointed by the speaker of the house and three minority party members appointed by the minority leader.

(b) Members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and continue to serve until their successors are appointed or until a member is no longer a member of the legislative body that appointed the member to the commission. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original positions. Vacancies occurring on the commission do not affect the authority of the remaining members of the Legislative Water Commission to carry out the function of the commission.

(c) Members shall elect a chair, vice-chair, and other officers as determined by the commission. The chair may convene meetings as necessary to conduct the duties prescribed by this section.

Subd. 3. Commission staffing. The Legislative Coordinating Commission must employ staff and contract with consultants as necessary to enable the Legislative Water Commission to carry out its duties and functions.

Subd. 4. Powers and duties. (a) The Legislative Water Commission shall review water policy reports and recommendations of the Environmental Quality Board, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Council, and other water-related reports as may be required by law or the legislature.

(b) The commission may conduct public hearings and otherwise secure data and comments.

(c) The commission shall make recommendations as it deems proper to assist the legislature in formulating legislation.

(d) Data or information compiled by the Legislative Water Commission or its subcommittees shall be made available to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, the Clean Water Council, and standing and interim committees of the legislature on request of the chair of the respective commission, council, or committee.

(e) The commission shall coordinate with the Clean Water Council.

Subd. 5. Compensation. Members of the commission may receive per diem and expense reimbursement incurred doing the work of the commission in the manner and amount prescribed for per diem and expense payments by the senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the house of representatives Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration.

Subd. 6. Expiration. This section expires July 1, 2019.

History: 2014 c 312 art 4 s 3